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7,862-acre East Cotentin Coast. Middle West 1 France saltwater fishing map with official SHOM 100 m bathymetry, source-qualified fishing spots, official regional fish evidence, seasonal forage guidance, public shore-use context and current-rule links. The eastern Cotentin coast from Utah Beach to Barfleur, including roadstead, harbor and tide-race structure. This page covers the middle west 1 angler-scale survey window. The water tops out around 47 ft. The depth chart comes from Shom (Service hydrographique et océanographique de la Marine) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
The drawn water covers 7,863 acres wrapped in 18.2 miles of bank. A middling shoreline index (1.5) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 34% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Call it 7.5 mi long by 2.7 mi wide at the broadest reach. East Cotentin Coast - Middle West 2 sits 6 mi east — the closest neighbouring chart.
East Cotentin Coast — Middle West 1, France : carte SHOM officielle jusqu’à 14 m; spots pour bar commun, maquereau commun. Pour préparer la pêche, jamais pour naviguer. Les profondeurs et les points de structure proviennent de la grille bathymétrique officielle du Shom. Les données servent à préparer la pêche et ne doivent jamais être utilisées pour la navigation.
Regional occurrence supports a search target, not equal abundance, child-specific catch rate, retention permission or a promised catch. Current national, EU, regional, protected-area and species rules always control. The roster may combine exact-water monitoring with habitat-filtered official regional evidence; it does not imply that every species is equally abundant throughout the mapped section.
| Species | Evidence basis | Count / date |
|---|---|---|
| bar commun (European Seabass) | official species listing | — |
| maquereau commun (Atlantic Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| plie commune (European Plaice) | official species listing | — |
| sole commune (Common Sole) | official species listing | — |
| flet commun (European Flounder) | official species listing | — |
| merlan (Whiting) | official species listing | — |
| orphie (Garfish) | official species listing | — |
| hareng (Atlantic Herring) | official species listing | — |
| barbue (Brill) | official species listing | — |
| raie bouclée (Thornback Ray) | official species listing | — |
| mulet lippu (Thick-lipped Grey Mullet) | official species listing | — |
| lieu jaune (Atlantic Pollock) | official species listing | — |
| cabillaud (Atlantic Cod) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
When the water first warms, european seabass slide up into 3 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 2 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 9 to 47 ft. If you only fish one area, make it SHOM-grid current seam: a current seam around 19 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (19 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (19 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (19 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 9 to 47 ft | midday | Deepest basin (47 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: atlantic mackerel in 5 to 45 ft. As the season builds they drop to 9 to 47 ft, wintering in 12 to 47 ft. Top water on the chart: Deepest basin, a deep basin in the 47 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a feather rig or a small vertical jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (19 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 9 to 47 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (47 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 7 to 47 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (19 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 12 to 47 ft | midday | Deepest basin (47 ft) | Small deep jig |
Early season european plaice use the shallows, holding in 8 to 35 ft. Expect a summer slide to 6 to 40 ft, then a winter hold in 14 to 47 ft. Put SHOM-grid channel edge first on the milk run — a channel edge near 24 ft that grades prime for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid shoal (8 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid flat (5 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 9 to 47 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (24 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 14 to 47 ft | midday | Deepest basin (47 ft) |
In spring, common sole run shallow here, mostly 6 to 30 ft. Summer keeps them at 3 to 30 ft, and they winter in 13 to 47 ft. Summer common sole concentrate at SHOM-grid flat, a prime-rated feeding flat around 5 ft. Fish it in the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a light rolling-lead rig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 30 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid flat (5 ft) | Tiny bottom jig |
| Summer | 3 to 30 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid flat (5 ft) | Light rolling-lead rig |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (24 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 13 to 47 ft | night | Deepest basin (47 ft) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: european flounder in 5 to 25 ft. As the season builds they drop to 6 to 35 ft, wintering in 14 to 47 ft. Top water on the chart: SHOM-grid flat, a feeding flat in the 5 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a bottom jig with spinner blade gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid flat (5 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid flat (5 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | Sharp break (16 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 14 to 47 ft | midday | Deepest basin (47 ft) | Small bottom jig |
Early season whiting use the shallows, holding in 13 to 47 ft. Even in summer they hold at 13 to 47 ft; winter keeps them in 10 to 47 ft. Put SHOM-grid channel edge first on the milk run — a channel edge near 24 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a small vertical jig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 13 to 47 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (24 ft) | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 13 to 47 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (47 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 8 to 47 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (24 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 10 to 47 ft | dusk | Deepest basin (47 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
East Cotentin Coast - Middle West 1 also holds garfish (2 to 20 ft in summer), atlantic herring (14 to 47 ft in summer), brill (6 to 47 ft in summer), thornback ray (7 to 47 ft in summer), thick-lipped grey mullet (1 to 18 ft in summer), atlantic pollock (4 to 47 ft in summer), atlantic cod (12 to 47 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 9 structure features on East Cotentin Coast - Middle West 1; the deepest is Deepest basin at about 47 ft.
No official 2025 EEA designated bathing-water point matched within 400 metres of this SHOM-grid shoreline. This is an access-evidence gap, not a statement that public fishing access does not exist. Verify local fishing rights, land ownership, posted restrictions, protected areas, tidal and surf safety, and municipal permission before entry.
Private land and private launches need the owner's permission — please ask first.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for France waters are set by the Légifrance (current French recreational sea-fishing minimum sizes) — and special regulations can apply to East Cotentin Coast - Middle West 1 specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. French recreational sea-fishing rules combine current national and European species measures with façade, prefectural, marine-protected-area, harbour and local access controls. Check live minimum sizes, quotas, seasonal or method closures, marking requirements and any no-take zone before every trip. A SHOM contour, fishing-spot marker or designated bathing-water lead is planning context only and never permission to fish, retain a catch, park, launch or enter restricted shore or port property.
Check the official France fishing regulations →
French Ministry for Ecological Transition — recreational sea fishing →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Check official shore-access information →
East Cotentin Coast - Middle West 1 is about 47 ft (14 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Shom (Service hydrographique et océanographique de la Marine) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Official coastal monitoring from Ifremer CGFS and coastal estuary monitoring regional survey evidence informs the european seabass, atlantic mackerel, european plaice, common sole, european flounder, whiting, garfish, atlantic herring, brill, thornback ray, thick-lipped grey mullet, atlantic pollock, atlantic cod roster for East Cotentin Coast - Middle West 1. The mixed roster combines exact-water records where available with habitat-filtered regional evidence; not every species is documented at this exact water, and it is not a promise of equal abundance or a catch on a particular trip.
SHOM-grid current seam is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 19 ft of water that rates prime for european seabass in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For european seabass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on East Cotentin Coast - Middle West 1 is regulated by the Légifrance (current French recreational sea-fishing minimum sizes). Check the official France regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
East Cotentin Coast - Middle West 2 6 mi · East Cotentin Coast - South West 2 11 mi · East Cotentin Coast - North West 2 12 mi · East Cotentin Coast - North West 1 14 mi · East Cotentin Coast - Middle West 3 16 mi · Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague - South East 17 mi · East Cotentin Coast - North West 3 19 mi · East Cotentin Coast - South West 3 19 mi · Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague - North East 19 mi · East Cotentin Coast - Middle West 4 25 mi · Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague - North Central 26 mi · East Cotentin Coast - North West 4 28 mi
See how East Cotentin Coast - Middle West 1 stacks up: best atlantic herring lakes in France · best european flounder lakes in France · best garfish lakes in France · best european seabass lakes in France
Browse all France fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.